Camera and Method of Detecting Image Data

Abstract

A camera is provided comprising an image sensor for detecting image data from a detection zone; an optoelectronic distance sensor in accordance with the principle of a time of flight process; and a control and evaluation unit connected to the image sensor and to the distance sensor. The distance sensor has a plurality of light reception elements to generate a height profile and the control and evaluation unit is configured to use the height profile to determine camera parameters and/or to evaluate the image data.

1 . A camera comprising:
 an image sensor for detecting image data from a detection zone;   an optoelectronic distance sensor in accordance with the principle of a time of flight process; and   a control and evaluation unit connected to the image sensor and to the distance sensor,   
       wherein the distance sensor has a plurality of light transmission elements to generate a height profile; and wherein the control and evaluation unit is configured to utilize the height profile to determine camera parameters and/or to evaluate the image data. 
     
     
         2 . The camera in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 wherein the control and evaluation unit is configured to trigger a recording of the image sensor at a specific height profile.   
     
     
         3 . The camera in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 wherein the control and evaluation unit is configured to decide on the basis of information on a reference profile of a container and of the height profile whether an empty container or a container with an object is located in the detection zone and to trigger a recording of the image sensor or not in dependence thereon.   
     
     
         4 . The camera in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 wherein the control and evaluation unit is configured to set a focal position of a reception optics of the image sensor in dependence on the height profile.   
     
     
         5 . The camera in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 wherein the control and evaluation unit is configured to determine the inclination from the height profile.   
     
     
         6 . The camera in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 wherein the control and evaluation unit is configured to determine the camera's own perspective with reference to the height profile.   
     
     
         7 . The camera in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 wherein the control and evaluation unit is configured to monitor the camera's own perspective with reference to the height profile.   
     
     
         8 . The camera in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 wherein the control and evaluation unit is configured to determine and to monitor the camera's own perspective with reference to the height profile.   
     
     
         9 . The camera in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 wherein the control and evaluation unit is configured to fix regions of interest with reference to the height profile.   
     
     
         10 . The camera in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 wherein the control and evaluation unit is configured to fix regions of interest with reference to the height profile while taking a reference profile into account.   
     
     
         11 . The camera in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 wherein the field of vision of the distance sensor is at least partly disposed outside the detection zone.   
     
     
         12 . The camera in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 that is installed in a stationary manner at a conveying device that guides objects to be detected in a direction of conveying through the detection zone.   
     
     
         13 . The camera in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 wherein the control and evaluation unit is configured to determine the speed of objects in the detection zone with reference to the height profile.   
     
     
         14 . The camera in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 that has an illumination unit for illuminating the detection zone; and wherein the control and evaluation unit is configured to set the illumination unit with reference to the height profile.   
     
     
         15 . The camera in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 that has a control and evaluation unit that is configured to identify code regions in the image data and to read their code content.   
     
     
         16 . A method of detecting image data from a detection zone in which a distance is measured using an additional optoelectronic distance sensor in accordance with the principle of a time of flight process,
 wherein a spatially resolved height profile is generated by the distance sensor and the height profile is utilized to determine recording parameters of the detection of the image data and/or to evaluate the image data.